Dates, facts and figures
There is a lot to learn about the Frauenkirche. For those who like it short we put together several pieces of information that outline key data on the building, the reconstruction and historic events. Especially the latter make no claim to completeness but are meant to give an interesting insight into various aspects of this church.
Building
Height and lenght details
| Height of the church (with spire cross) | 91,23 m |
| Height of the dome (without dome batter and lantern) | 24,00 m |
| Height of the staircase turrets | 50,98 m |
| Height of the nave up to eye of the inner dome | 36,65 m |
| Height of the visitor platform on the lantern | 67,06 m |
| Length of the church (west/east) | 50,02 m |
| Width of the church (north/south) | 41,95 m |
| Outer diameter of the main dome | 36,15 m |
| Maximum thickness of the dome's stone work | 119 cm |
| Minimum thickness of the dome's stone work | 175 cm |
Details about the nave
| Piers | 8 |
| Number of galleries | 5 |
| Seats (total / nave / galleries) | 1.664 / 622 / 1.042 |
| Material of the pews | fir wood |
| Stops / pipes of the organ | 67 / 4.876 |
| Painting sections in the inner dome | 8 sections / 8 miniatures |
The bells of the Frauenkirche
| diameter | weight | |
| Hanna (thanksgiving bell) | Ø 69,4 cm | 291 kg |
| Philippus (baptism bell) | Ø 78,5 cm | 392 kg |
| Josua (wedding bell) | Ø 96,4 cm | 645 kg |
| Jeremia (city bell) | Ø 108,6 cm | 900 kg |
| Johannes (proclamation bell) | Ø 125,1 cm | 1.228 kg |
| David (prayer bell) | Ø 85,0 cm | 475 kg |
| Maria (memorial bell) | Ø 84,6 cm | 328,5 kg |
| Jesaja (peace bell) | Ø 140,4 cm | 1.750 kg |
Reconstruction
Use of historical material
Around 45% of the Frauenkirche comprises historical stone material including the parts of the ruin. 8,425 old ashlars alone were integrated during the reconstruction of the Frauenkirche.
This is where the stones came from / were built back in:
| ... façade | 7,110 |
| ... inner church room | 1,013 |
| ... registered as large parts | 106 |
| ... gravestones | 177 |
| ... external structures | 19 |
Of the 7,110 old stones of the façade ...
| ... 20 of 66 were integrated for the outer stairs (around 34% of the stones in this area) |
| ... 1,526 of 2,037 for the ground floor and rising wall (75%) |
| ... 666 of 1,110 for the principal cornice and roof parapet (60%) |
| ... 557 of 1,297 for the spire of the staircase turret (43%) |
| ... 618 of 2,145 for the dome, batter and tambour (30%) |
| ... 152 of 407 for the lantern (around 37%). |
Around 80% of the altar is made of original material: 1,642 fragments were returned to their original positions there.
Quantities
| Total church building | 60,000 t |
| Dome | 12,300 t |
| Lantern | 700 t |
| Steel structures (anchors, gallery girders, window frames) | 570 t |
| Sheet metal (copper, lead) | 4,800 m² |
| Wood (doors, bell frames, flooring, pews etc.) | 800 m3 |
| Gilding (gold leaf) | 600 g |
| Electrical cables laid | 85,000 m |
Construction costs
| Total construction costs (incl. archaeological rubble clearing, construction preparation, taxes) | 182,6 Mio. € | |
| Net construction costs | 131,1 Mio. € | |
| financed by | ||
| Public fonds | 70,0 Mio. € | (38%) |
| Donations received | 102,8 Mio. € | (56%) |
| Operative results | 9,8 Mio. € | (5%) |
Apart from a deviation of 2% (which was lower than the annual inflation rate at the time) the building costs met the initially calculated sum.
Timeline
Chronological history of the building
| Previous churches | |||
| 11th c. | Foundation of the Frauenkirche as a missonary church in Nisan district | ||
| 12th c. | First stone structure as basilica with three naves, the Frauenkirche becomes the parish church of Dresden | ||
| 13th/14th c. | Repeated enlargement and conversion to a Gothic hall church | ||
| 1470-1483 | The Frauenkirche is rebuilt in a late Gothic style | ||
| 1539 | The church is closed following the Reformation, used as a burial church | ||
| 1559 | Church services restart | ||
| 16th c. | Inclusion of the district around the Frauenkirche in the fortifications of Dresden | ||
| 1714 | Gradual dissolution of the churchyard at the endeavours of Augustus the Strong | ||
| Baroque church | |||
| 1722 | The city council decides to build a new church, George Bähr is commissioned with this work | ||
| 1726 | Official planning and building permisison from the Earl of Wackerbarth (26th June) | ||
| 1726 | Laying of the foundation stone and start of building work (26th August) | ||
| 1729 | Start of building work on the bell-shaped stone dome | ||
| 1734 | Premature consecration of the church (28th February) | ||
| 1736 | Completion of the building work on the dome | ||
| 1738 | Calls for the removal of the heavy stone dome following the first structural damage and the death of George Bähr | ||
| 1743 | Final completion of the building (27th May) | ||
| Destruction and memorial | |||
| 1945 | The church collapses (15th February) two days after the bombing of Dresden | ||
| 1966 | The Frauenkirche ruins are declared a memorial | ||
| Reconstruction | |||
| 1990 | "Appeal from Dresden" (13th February) | ||
| 1993 | Begin of the archaeological rubble clearance (04th January) | ||
| 1993 | Handover of the building permission certificate (250th anniversary of the completion)(27th May) | ||
| 1994 | Official start of rebuilding work (first stone laid; 27th May) | ||
| 1996 | Completion and consecration of the Lower Church (21st August) | ||
| 2000 | The spire cross financed by British donations is handed over by His Royal Highness, the Duke of Kent (13th February) | ||
| 2001 | Completion of the inner dome (29th July) | ||
| 2003 | Consecration of the bells (04th May) | ||
| 2003 | Completion of the main dome (23rd May) | ||
| 2004 | Restoration of the outer shape of the Frauenkirche with erection of the lantern dome including the pinnacle cross (22nd June) | ||
| 2005 | Completion of interior work including paintings and installation of the organ (June) | ||
| 2005 | Consecration of the restored Frauenkirche in Dresden Dresden (30th October) | ||
